rohrer



PATENTE@ JAN. 5, 1904.

J. B.. ROHRR.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED HAR. 3, 1903.

NO MODEL.

sums co, mmaurwa. n.siuucmzumv u UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.'

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,655, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed March 3, 1903. Serial No. 146,004. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, J AcoB B. Rennen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Umbrella, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to umbrellas; and it consists in theinproved construction hereinafter described land claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

A commonldefect in umbrellas as ordinarily constructed is the breaking of the umbrella-stick just beyond the ppint of' attachment of the cover structure to the stick. When such a break occurs, it is necessary to replace the broken stick with a new one,which is a matter of considerable difficulty, or to discard the umbrella.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, and eective means for repairing umbrellas broken in the manner above explained, so that the necessity of re-l placing the broken stick witha new one may be obvated.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for repairing sticks broken, as above specifi`ed,inv such a manner that the umbrella so repaired will be stronger and better adapted to resist breaking than before l the break occurred.-

' umbrella is carried in closed condition.

Referring to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same characters of reference throughout the various views, Figure 1v is a view in side elevation of the downward end of an umbrellastick provided with associated structures constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is aview, partly in elevation and partly in section,of a broken umbrella-stick repaired by means of my invention with the associated members of an umbrella frame attached thereto. Fig. 3 is aviewshowing the tubular member 2, Fig. 1, in longitudinal section and the umbrella-stick in elevatiomthe position of the parts in all of the first three figures being the reverse of that assumed when the Fig. 4. is a detail view showing an umbrella-stick provided with a runner constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the construction of the coverprotector and a portion of the member 2 designed to cooperate therein. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the rib and stretcher joined. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the construction of the runner and means for fastening the stretchersy thereto.

In the above-mentioned figures, 1 designates anumbrella-stick, and 2 is a tubular member which may be applied to the stick when the umbrella is manufactured, as shown in Fig. l, in which case it forms areinforce for the stickand eectively prevents breakage at the point above mentioned, or which may be applied, as shown in Fig. 2, to a broken umbrella-stick to form an extension thereof and make the replacement of the broken stick unnecessary.

3 represents a plug mounted in the end of the tubular member 2 when used as an extension, as shown in Fig. 2. The plug 3 extends into the tubular member 2 until its lower end abuts against the broken end ot' an umbrellastick 1, thus preventing the umbrella-stick from being forced farther into the tubular member while used as a cane. The plug 3 is removably heldin position by means of a pin 4, which passes through a slot 5, provided near the upper end of the tubular member 2, and extends into the plug 3. The tubular member 2 may be taperedexternally, as shown in Fig. 3, or provided with a shoulder, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a seat for an ann ular notch member 6, grooved on its upper surface, as shown at 7, and provided with notches terminating in rounded sockets 8, in which iit the rounded ends 9 of the ribs 10. The groove 7 is of sufficient depth for the rounded ends 9of the ribs to rest in their sockets Without projecting beyond the upper margin of the annular member 7. The ends of the ribs are retained in their sockets by means of another annular member 11. which is Iiaton thesurface adapted to contact. with the member 6. At diametrically opposite points on the portion of the tubular member 2 above the seat for the annular member 6 are provided two longitudinal projections or ribs 12, which terminate slightly above the notch. Grooves or slots 13 are provided at suitable points on the inner margin of the annular member 11 to permit the passage of the ribs 12 as said annular member is moved into position to hold the ribs in their sockets in the member 6. In order to hold the member 11 in operative position, the cover-protector 14 is made, as shown, with grooves 15 to permit the passage of the ribs 12, and with the inclined surfaces 16, which may be made to engage with the ends of the ribs 12 after the cover-protector 14 has been forced into close contact with the cover, where it is secured to the member 2 by simply rotating said cover-protector in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. When the cam-surfaces 16 are brought into engagement with the ends of the ribs 12 in the manner explained, the cover-protector 14 is forced into firm engagement with the cover 17 and that is pressed against the member 11 so strongly that said member 11 is held in close contact with the member 6 and eectively retains the ribs in their sockets.

In order to prevent rotation of the runner upon the umbrella-stick, slots 18 18, extending longitudinally of the stick 1 for a suitable distance, are provided, and the runner 19 is provided with lugs or projections 20, which engage the slots 18 and prevent rotation of the runner on the stick, while in no way interfering with its sliding movement thereon. The runner 19 is constructed in similar fashion to the notch described in the preceding paragraph, and consists of a tubular portion 21 and an annular flange 22, rigidly secured on said tubular portion and provided with notches 23 and sockets 24, similar to those provided in the annular member 6 and adapted to receive the rounded ends 25 of the stretchers 26. The said stretchers 26 are retained in their sockets by means of an annular retainer 27, provided with grooves 28 for the passage of lugs 29, suitably located on the tubular portion 21 of the runner and arranged at diametrically opposite points on its surface. The lugs 29 are placed slightly below the annular liange 22 and are adapted to engage with two inclined cam-surfaces 30, provided on the annular retainer 27 to hold itin position to retain the ends of the stretchers in their sockets.

The ribs 10 and the stretchers 26 are connected by ball-and-socket joints. On each rib is provided a U-shaped member 31, in each of the free ends of which is provided a depression 32, adapted to receive a rounded end of a stretcher in all respects similar to the end engaging with the runner.

In umbrellas constructed in accordance with my invention, as above explained, the tubular member 2 is fitted on the stick 1, which then extends entirely through the tubular member,and the ordinary ferrule or tip is employed. The member 2 in this case serves as a reinforce to the stick 1 and strengthens the stick at the point where breakage is ordinarily most apt to occur, so that breakage at that point is almost impossible. When the member 2 is to be used for repairing umbrellas whose sticks have become broken just beyond the cover-protector, the notch, cover-protector, cover, and ribs must be detached from the umbrella-stick. Themember 2 (which, it is understood, is to be made in different sizes to correspond to the various standard sizes of an umbrellastick) is then itted on the end of the broken stick, as shown in Fig. 2, and the plug 3 is inserted into the end of the member 2 until it contacts with the broken end of the stick 1, in which position it is secured by a pin 4, passing through the slot 5, as shown, and so prevents any jamming of the stick l farther into the tubular member 2. When used in this way, the member 2 must be so adjusted on the end of the broken stick 1 that the seat for the notch in which the ribs are secured is at the proper position to engage with ribs of the length used 'in that particular umbrella.

The method of connecting the umbrellaribs with the notch described above and of securing the parts of the notch in position is peculiarly advantageous, for the reason that the fastening means locks positively by means of the engagement of the cam-surface 16 on the cover-protector 14 with the ends of the ribs 12, so that there is no tendencyr of the coverprotector to become accidentally disengaged, and so permit separation of the various parts held in position by it, but is of such character that whenever it becomes necessary to separate the parts, as when a rib is broken, it is easily accomplished by merely giving the cover-protector 14 a turn through an arc of about ninety degrees, bringing it in position to slide downward over the lower portion of the tubular member 2 and permit the separation of the two members of the notch and removal of the ribs therefrom.

The means for securing the stretchers to the runner is so similar in its operation to the fastening means for the ribs that no explanation of the operation thereof seems nec- IIO essary, and the action of the slots 18 and the lugs 2O in preventing any rotation of the runner upon the stick 1, and so obviating any entangling or bending of the ribs from such rotation, is also obvious and requires no further explanation.

It should be stated that when the tubular member 2 is to be used in repairing umbrellasticks of the ordinary type which have become broken just beyond the cover-protector notches of the usual form maybe used thereon instead of those of the form described above, as the notch described is adapted only for use with ribs having rounded or ball-like ends adapted to engage with the sockets provided in the notch. When a notch of the ordinary construction is used, it may be secured in position on the tubular member 2 in any desired way, and no special means of attachment is necessary. The cover-protector then employed may be of the usual form or of the stick and to prevent said stick from being form herein described, as either will be oa,- foreed farther into the extension and means pablo of use with the ordinary type of notch. to hold said plug in position.

Having thus described my invention, what In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I5 5 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters my own I have hereto affixed my signature in Paent, isthe presence of two witnesses.

n extension for broken umbrella-sticks comprising a. tubular member adapted to t i JACOB B ROHRER snugly over the broken end of the stick, a re- Witnesses:

Io movable plug at its outer end adapted to coni J. H. JOGHUMVJr.,

tact with the broken end of the umbrella.- J. ROSS CALHOUN. 

